Gemotions

The house felt too quiet, the absence of sound almost painful for Oliver. The notification was from Greg, the boy who'd made him the butt of every joke in elementary school. He had been trying to finish a jigsaw puzzle, but his mind kept wandering. The pieces sat, scattered, in disarray. He sighed.

He thought of the long walks home, the feeling of being isolated, the way he’d been excluded. His hands felt clammy. He could almost hear Greg's laughter. He felt a profound sense of weariness, a desire to simply disappear. He gave up on the puzzle, and walked to the door.